For a long time, electric two wheelers out of India have been all about scooters. Practical, affordable, and built to move massive numbers of people through crowded cities. That’s why the Vida VXZ feels like such a turning point. It isn’t trying to be clever or cute. It wants to be taken seriously as a motorcycle.
Unveiled at EICMA, the VXZ is the first proper electric motorcycle concept from Hero MotoCorp’s EV brand, Vida. Since then, Hero has locked in design patents for both the bike and its headlight, which is usually the moment when a concept starts looking less like a design exercise and more like a real product.
At a glance, the VXZ looks familiar in the right ways. It’s a street naked with upside-down forks, a rear monoshock, disc brakes front and rear, and road-focused 17-inch alloy wheels. The battery pack sits where an engine normally would, complete with cooling fins, giving it the same visual balance as an ICE bike instead of the awkward proportions that still plague many EVs. The tail section, complete with a tire hugger-mounted plate and indicators, borrows styling cues from Hero’s own Xtreme lineup, grounding the design in something recognizable, especially in its home market of India.
What makes the VXZ genuinely interesting isn’t just the hardware. It’s the intent behind it. Hero has confirmed that this project is being co- developed with Zero Motorcycles, a brand that’s widely recognized as one of the first pioneers in the electric motorcycle space. That partnership points to a focus on ride quality, throttle response, and usable performance, not just spec sheet bragging rights.
Naturally, comparisons to the Ultraviolette F77 are unavoidable.
The F77 showed the world that India can build a performance-oriented electric motorcycle with real presence, offering around 40 horsepower and top speeds approaching 90 miles an hour. Hero hasn’t shared numbers yet, but positioning the VXZ in the 350cc equivalent and above space suggests it’s aiming for similar territory rather than something watered down.
And honestly, all this points to something so much bigger than just a new motorcycle. The VXZ makes it clear that Indian manufacturers are starting to use premium electric motorcycles as tech flagships. Just like high performance ICE bikes once pushed chassis, electronics, and engine development forward, bikes like the VXZ could become the proving ground for next-generation EV tech that eventually trickles down.
For everyday riders like you and me, this matters more than you might think. A global giant like Hero committing to premium electric motorcycles means better scale, faster development, and more competition. That usually leads to better bikes at better prices, and not just in one market.
If the VXZ delivers on its promise, it won’t just be chasing the F77. It’ll help push electric motorcycles closer to mainstream, and worth choosing for reasons beyond emissions reduction alone.
Source: AutoCar India
